Washing machine



June11, 1940- gzi m 7 1 23045461 WASHING MACHINE (scum ovERFLow I Filed Sept. 11, 1935 s sheets-spew:

N VEN TOR. IS

1.. ZIMARIK WASHING MACHINE (SCUM OVIEIRFLOW) F i1ed Sept. 11/1935 ssheets-snet 2 IN VEN TOR.

. LOUIS ZIMARII A TTOR Patented June 11, 1940 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,204,461 WASHING MACHINE (SCUM OVERFLQW) Louis Zimarik, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to The Prosperity Company Inc., Syracuse, N. I, a corporation of New York Application September 11, 1935, Serial No. 40,111

9 Claims.

This invention relates to laundry washing machines, and has for its object a particularly simple construction or means by which the scum that floats on the top of the washing liquid in the cas- 'ing or receptacle is removed or ejected during the sloshing or surging of the liquid under the influence of the rotatable, or, otherwise movable, 'container in the casing, without overflowing or removing an appreciable amountof liquid.

It further has for its object means for removing the scum in machines of the type in which the outer casing or receptacle for the washing liquid is a horizontal cylinder and the clothes container a perforated drum rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis coincident with, or parallel to, the

. axis of the outer casing.

Other objects will appear throughout the specification.'

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions herein- 2 after set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a washing machine embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view on a reduced Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views taken re- .spectively on lines 5-5 and lii, Figure 4.

Figures '7 and 8 are transverse sectional views taken on the same lines as Figures 5 and 6 respectively and illustrating the position of the movable valve member, when shifted to establish communication with the rinsing fluid supply and the drum, and to establish communication be- I tween the water supply and the outer casing.

Figures 9 and 10 are isometric views of the movable valve member. I

Figures 11 and 12 are fragmentary isometric views of the control valve for the rinsing and 50 washing liquid and contiguousparts, Figure 11 showing the position of the valve, when set to let the water or liquid feed into the casing, and Figum 12, the position assumed when operated to let a the water flow through the rinsing conduit.

(Cl. ea-zos) I designates an outer casing, which is usually in the general form of a horizontal cylinder; and

2 designates a clothes container, preferably in the form of a cylinder or drum mounted on a horizontal axis in'the casing, which axis is coincident 5 with or parallel to the axis. of the casing. The outer casing I is mounted upon a suitable base 3 which also houses mechanisms, accessory to the machine, asactuating mechanism for the drum,

1 drain valve mechanism, etc.

The drum is actuated in any suitable manner or by any suitable actuating mechanism connected to an axle 4 on the rear end thereof. The casing is provided on its front end with a loading door structurei, which door also closes a door open- 5 mg in the end of the drum remote from the driving axle 4.

During a washing operation, a washing fluid or solvent is filled into the outer casing to a predetermined low'level, as indicated by the line L-L '20 (Figure 1), and this may be considered the normal level; the drum is rotated first a predetermined number of times in one direction and then in the reverse direction, and this oscillating movement is repeated. During sudsing periods of a 25 washing operation, the level is'raised to a height indicated by thev line HH, and during this sudsing, a thicklayer of suds and scum floats on the water. Some of the floating suds, which contains dirt that is liable to settle on the clothes, is 30 being constantly removed during the surging of the water. Also, during the initial part of the v rinsing operation, the level of the water is raised to H-H to float off the scum that would settle on the clothes. During the latter part of the rinsing 1 operation, the dump valve of the machine remains open and the rinsing is eifected by jets of clean water. The drum isperforated in the usual manner, and as seen in-Figure 4, is also formed with peripheral projections or blades 6, which 40 facilitate the surging operation.

.Onefeatureof the invention is -a means'for removing the scum without removing an appreciable amount of water or liquid during the surgingoi the liquid.

' As here shown, the means for so removing the scum comprises 'a scum outlet or float chamber provided on the peripheral wall of the outer cas ing above the normal and high levels of the liquid, thischamber having anoverflo'w outlet in the form of a slot located at substantially the level of the widest part of the casing 'ina horizontal direction.

' The washing machine here illustrated is shown 66 outlet passage 23 in the valve casing, and with as provided with but one scum removing means on one side thereof. I

I I designates the scum removing chamber having an outlet I2 delivering into a drain pipe I5. The chamber II is secured to the peripheral or cylindrical wall of the outer casing and communicates with the interior of the casing through perforations I3 formed in the portion of the wall of the' casing on which the chamber II is mounted. The chamber II is secured in position in any suitable manner, as by fastening members I4 extending through a marginal flange on the chamber and threading into the cylindrical wall of the outer casing. The bottom of the chamber I I is formed inclined for facilitating the draining of the liquid that surges into the chamber back into the outer casing. The outlet I2 is located an appreciable distance above the bottom. This chamber I I extends at its lower portion below the horizontal plane of the axis of the drum. As the liquid is carried around the drum, that nearest the'drum, has a greater velocity than that toward the cylindrical wall of the casing. This gives a somewhat tilting effect to the layer of scum accumulating on the surface, which causes a large part thereof to be passed into the scum chamber. The drain pipe I5 delivers into a sewer or other outside receptable and does not drain back into the casing I. Usually, the overflow scum outlet I2 is located near the top of the chamber II near the level or slightly above the normal level of the liquid contents of the casing, so that during the surging of the liquid, the scum on the surface thereof is thrown into the outlet I2. The greater part of the chamber II is located below the outlet I2 and communicates with the interior of the casing I through means which retards the easy flow,

of the liquid back into the casing, the retardling action giving timefor the greater part of the scum on the surface of the water in the chamber II to be thrown out through the outlet I2.

Owing to this arrangement, the water or liquid while surging under the influence of the rotation of the drum rises or is impelled into the chamber II but the dirty scum thereon is floated out through the outlet I2; thus during the sudsing and operations, the scum is prevented from accumulating to such an extent as to foul the clothes being washed.

The valve structure for controlling the flow of the washing liquid to the outer casing I and the passage of a rinsing fluid to the clothes container drum 2, is built, as a unit, with the scum re-, moving chamber I I and located on one side of said chamber.

2| designates the valve casing, and 22 a rotary, and usually a two-way, valve member in the casing. The valve casing communicates with the interior of the outer receptacle I through an a conduit for conducting the rinsing fluid to the drum 2, through an outlet passage 24,; and is operable to open either of said passages and close the other. The washing liquid is usually water, hot or cold, or amixture of the same, with a soap or solvent therein, and also the rinsing liquid is hot or cold water or amixture.

25 and 26 designate respectively hot and cold water conduits which are connected to a suitable supply, and these have normally closed manually operable valves 21 and 23 therein. 29 is a conduit conducting the rinsing fluid from the outlet passage 24 of the valve casing 2 I to the in terior of the drum, this conduit extending around to the rear side of the outer casing and communicating with the drum through the rear wall of the outer casing. This pipe arrangement per .se forms no part of this invention. 1

The valve member 22 is rotatably mounted in the casing 2| and is normally arranged in position' to close the passage 24 leading to the rinsing conduit 29, and to establish communication between the hot and cold water conduits 25 and 26 and the outer casing I through the outlet passage 30 (see Figures 3, 11 and 12), the passage 3 0 communicating with the port 23 opening into the outer casing I. When the valve member 22 is inits normal position, it is in the position shown in Figures 5 and 11, andv when in position to supply the rinsing fluid is in the position shown in Figures 7, 8 and 12. The valve member is formed with a transfer passage 3|, which, when in normal position, communicates with the inlet chambers 32 and 33 of the valve casing 2| into which the hot and cold water conduits discharge. This passage 3| communicates with the outlet passage 30, as seen in Figure 6, and when .in this position, a full portion 34 of the valve member 22 cuts off the chamber 24 of the valve I casing with which the rinsing conduit communicates. When in this position, if either or both the hot and cold water valves 21 and 28 are open, the water will flow through the passages 3|, 30 and port 23 into the outer casing I. When the valve member 22 is turned into the position shown in Figures '1, 8 and 12, the same passage 3| communicates with the chamber 24 of the valve casing 2|, which chamber communicates with the rinsing conduit 29, and also with the hot and cold water chambers 32, 33 of the valve casing, so that when either the hot or cold water valves 21 and 28 or both are open, the water will flow from the chamber 32 or 33 or both, through the passage 31 into the chamber 24 and out through the rinsing conduit 29, and during this time, the passage 3| is cut off from the passage 30 leading to the outer casing I by the wall 36 of the valve member 22. The valve member 221s thus normally in such position that it will communicate with the drum I, if the hot and cold'water valves are open. To rinse, the valve is turned to cut off the outlet into the outer casing I and establish communication with the rinsing conduit 29 or is turned to the position shown in Figures '1 and 8.

The valve is operated by a suitable handle 31 mounted thereon.

What I claim is:

1. ma laundry washing machine, a horizon tal, substantially cylindrical outer casing for re-' mounted, whereby the surface liquid and the h h 7 2,204,481 a casing having a wall, and a perforated cylin-- drical clothes drum rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis in the casing, the wall being opposed to the periphery of the drum on one side thereof and' therewith forminga passage through which the liquid is carried during rotation of the drum, a chamber located outside said wall of the casing and communicating with the casing through a wall having openings permitting 'unobstructed flow of liquid and scum thereon into the top of the chamber and restricting the flow of liquid from the chamber back into the casing to retard the lowering of the in the chamber, the chamber having an overflow outlet opening into, the chamber near the top thereof, all whereby the liquid and the scumthereon is thrown into the chamber from .the casing during the surging of the liquid, and is restrained in its return from the chamber back into the casing under the influence of the rotat-' ing drum, and the liquid drains from said chamber back into the casing, and the floating scum passes into'the outlet.

3. In a laundry washing machine, a substantiallyhorizontal casing forreceiving a washing liquid, a drum rotatably mounted on the horizontal axis in the casing; the casing having a wall opposed to the periphery of the drum at one side of the drum and therewith forming an upwardly extending passage through which the liquid is carried by the rotation of the drum, a chamber located outside said wall of the casing near the-level of theaxis of the drum, the chamber opening at one side through said wall into the casing a partition separating the interiors of the casing and the chamber and having openings located near the bottom of the chamber, the chamber having an overflow outlet on the upper side thereof, all whereby the liquid and the scum thereon is thrown .into said chamber during the surging .of the liquid under the influence of the rotatingdrum, the liquid runs from the chamber through said partition into the casing, the floating scum passes into the outlet: and the partition' serves to delay the return of the liquid 'from the chamber to the casing.

4. In a washing machine, a horizontal casing for receiving a washing liquid, a cylindrical drum rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis in the casing, the casing having a wall opposed to the periphery of, the drum at one side of the drum and therewith forming an upwardly extending passage through which the liquid is carried by the 'rotation of the drum, a chamber arranged outside said wall and opening at one side through said wall into the casing to receive the liquid with the scum thereon-during the surging of the liquid under the influence of the rotating drum, said chamber having an overflow outlet from the upper end thereof and aperforated partition between the interiors of the casing and the chamber and extending to near the bottom of the chamber, whereby the liquid with the scum thereon is thrown into the chamber and the liquid delayed in its return movement to the easing to permit the scum to overflow, the partition serving as a baiile means to retard the return of the liquid to the casing. I

5. In a laundry washing machine, a horizontal cylindrical outer casing for receiving a washing liquid, a perforated washing drum rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis inthe casing, the

- casinghaving a chamber on the outside thereof, the climber-having an outlet in the uppor poritionihereof, the greater portion of the chamber level of the liquid" being located below the level or said outlet, the chamber communicating at least at its upper and lower portions with the interior of the casing through the cylindrical wall thereof, said chamber being arranged with its outlet nearthe hori-' .zontal level of the horizontal plane of the axis of the casing;

6. In a laundry washing machine, a: horizontal cylindrical outer casing for receiving a washing liquid, a perforated washing drum rotatabiy mounted on a horizontal axis in the casing, the

casing having a chamber on the outside thereof,

the chamber having .an outlet in the upper portion thereof. and the greater portion of the chamber being located below the level of said outlet, the chamber having substantially unobstructed communication with the interior of the casing at the upper portion of the chamber and having obstructed communication with the interior of the casing below the upper portion thereof to retardthe free flow .of liquid from the chamber into the casing, said chamber being arranged with its outlet near the horizontal level of the horizontal plane of the axis of the casing, said scum outlet being arranged on the side of the chamber remote from the peripheral wall of the casing, all whereby surging of the liquid during the rotation of the drum in one direction tends to throw the liquid'with the scum thereon into the chamber and the scum floating on the liquid, out through the outlet, and the retumof the liquid in the chamber is retarded in its flow back to the casing. I

7. In a laundry washing machine, an outer casing for receiving a normally low-level washing .liquid therein, a clothes containing drum is carried up to and through said opening into the scum catcher and remover without conveying away any substantial portion of the washing liquid, thereby enabling the separate washing and rinsing operations to be carried out in the absence of formed scum.

8. In a laundry washing machine, an outer casing for receiving a normally low-level washing liquid therein, a perforated clothes containing drum rotatably mounted in the casing, 'a scum catcher and remover attached directly to the casing and communicating with a plurality of openings in the wall of 'the casing, the scum catcher having an inclined bottom permitting return, of liquid to the casing, both the scumcatcher and remover and ope'ningsbeing positioned above the normal low-level of liquid in the casing and being reached by the liquid and scum only when the drum is rotating, so that, during rotation of the drum, scum that is formed and floating on top of the washing liquid is carried upfit o and through said openings into the scum catcher and remover without conveying away any substantial portion of the washing liquid, and during reverse rotation of the drum the liquid in the scum catcher will flow down its inclined bottom back into ,the casing, thereby enabling the separate washing and rinsing operations to be carried out in'the absence of formed Scum. I L if yes 9. In a laundry washing machine, a casing for receiving a washing liquid, a perforated cylindrical clothes drum mounted in the casing, the casing receiving liquidto a normal low-level substantially below the axis of the drum and having a wall opposed to the periphery of the drum and provided with a plurality of passageways at different levels through which liquid is carried during the rotation of the drum and surging of the liquid within the casing, means forming a chamher on the outside wall of the casing opposite to,

and communicating with the casing through,

said passageways, said chamber having an in- 

